Brimming with warmth, wit, and emotional authenticity.
Lunch Tales: Suellen by Lucille Guarino is a heartfelt contemporary romance about second chances, self-discovery, and finding the courage to let love in. Suellen Atkins, the youngest attorney at a major New Jersey law firm, enjoys the privileges of her trust fund but struggles with intimacy, scarred by her parents’ volatile marriage. Her pattern of reckless relationships ends with a messy breakup from her latest fling, a man who doesn’t leave quietly and may be watching her. At a colleague’s farewell lunch, she reconnects with Adam Isaacson, a kind, steady former classmate whose genuine interest unsettles her as much as it intrigues her. Just as a romance begins to bloom, Suellen receives a shocking medical diagnosis that shakes her confidence and amplifies her instinct for self-sabotage. Through the highs and lows, her tight-knit group of lunch companions at the firm provides support, humor, and perspective, but even they cannot fix what Suellen must face within herself. As her stalker’s shadow looms and her health crisis deepens, Suellen is forced to confront her fears, question her life choices, and decide whether she will risk her heart on the possibility of lasting love. Guarino delivers an engaging, character-driven story brimming with warmth, wit, and emotional authenticity.
Lucille Guarino infuses charm and insight into every sentence, creating a tender, relatable love story with remarkable depth. It’s the kind of read that keeps a smile on your face from cover to cover, even when things take a turn for the dramatic or the deep. Because Guarino’s characters feel like people you know and want to root for against all odds, and there’s a steady sense of confidence that everything will work out for them in the end. Audiences get to know Suellen through some brilliant use of speech and thought presentation that makes it feel as though you’re right on her shoulder with every interaction. This closeness strikes a great balance between romance, suspense, and personal growth, and these themes mingle seamlessly without interrupting the plot. Though Suellen’s journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring, the law firm lunch crew is a particular highlight that adds heart to the setting and to Suellen’s life. These well-formed ensemble characters add to the realistic, emotionally intelligent storytelling that marks Guarino’s writing. Adam is a charming counterpoint to Suellen’s attitude and life experiences so far, and her moments with him make for a poignant look at self-defeating behavior and learning to trust again. These plotlines are sure to surprise and delight anyone who’s ever found themselves in a similar situation. Lunch Tales: Suellen is a perfect fix for readers who enjoy romance with substance and heart.
